Ugliest cars in India - Mahindra Xylo

If there is one car which will give a manatee good company on land, then it's the Mahindra Xylo. No complaints on the kit that the sedan-(b)eater has on offer, no issues with the fit and finish and the price is really tasty. But as a looker it still is miles away from what is perceived as a good looking MUV. I do understand that it's a cruel comparison, but it looks as if it's been inspired by a manatee. Cruel as in cruel to the gentle sea mammal.

The front end is neat and classy. But as we go beyond the front door, things start losing way. Designers, haven't you heard of a space filler called a wheel arch? The plain and almost creaseless section under the third row window is dull. It's like a huge blank on a poorly done magazine page, equivalent to a white space. The resulting effect is that of an over-blown balloon. Just like it's tough-guy brother Scorpio, the rear end is where the plot is completely lost. The creaseless theme continues below the rear license plate as well. The single ridge isn't the solution to the clean metal sheet treatment.

Sedan-beater? I'll say yes, considering the 17,000 bookings in the register. Best-looker, definitely no.

Stunning frames

A contrasting sky with dark rain clouds forming the lower section and the feather-white clouds filling up the portion above. This in turn imparted the image with two different colour schemes - blue above and a yellowish tint below. The Stunner made up the foreground and the evening sun's rays struggling to make their way through the dark clouds give the pic an end-of-a-roadtrip feel.

Revenge is coming to US tomorrow

Finally the big day is here. In a couple of hours from now, the biggest movie of the year will hit theatres in Uncle Sam's land. Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen did please the Queen's countrymen in the UK with a blistering opening weekend of £8.35m. With ease, it beat the records set by this year's summer flicks Terminator Salvation and Star Trek. The takings were a bit lower than the record breaker - The Dark Knight, which stood at £8.6m.

The foreign market cash count right now is a total of $19 million. Almost $14 million of this total comes from UK, Ireland and Malta. The rest can be attributed to the fans in Japan. Still unimpressed? Point to mark, it's barely 4 days since the day it set the first theatre screen on fire.

As for the US opening weekend predictions, expect the three day rake to be in the range of $80-100 million. Keeping my fingers crossed, as I don't want this to be a humiliating failure like Terminator Salvation.

Ugly Duck-kitt

So I missed the first episode of the new Knight Rider. Most probably it was the 2 hour pilot which was all over the web right after its NBC telecast in the US. A decent looking Kitt and a stylish attack mode made the pilot quite digestible. So in order to catch the first season episode I set the timer on the TV to 10pm , Friday, Star World. I knew what was coming. From the first season opener, they had turned the Kitt into a monster. Not a compliment. In the attack mode t indeed looked like an ugly monster.

The style of the pilot episode car was replaced by rice boy creativity. A cross between a drag racer and a dump truck, that's what the upgraded attack mode was. They took a good looking car and turned it into a heap of scrap. The supercharger on the hood looks more like a trio of PVC pipes glued together than of anything to boost the power. The side scoops look atrociously ugly. Who designed this thing? Drag racer ambitions translates into rubber band profile front tyres and dough nut wannabe rear tyres. To finish off - a spoiler which goes all the way upto the heavens with no purpose but to make the car look garish. And what's with the neon lights? The neon glow looks so cheap and down grade. It's a car for god's sake, not a diner from the 80's.

The transformation scenes look good though. Not of Transformers league, but close. It's an entirely different matter that I just hate what it transforms into.

If by any chance you liked the car in the image, the credit goes to the photographer. He must have had a tough job finding a less disturbing angle.

Ugliest cars in India - Tata Indigo XL

Two reasons - the rear door and the boxy boot. The Indigo was not the right follow-up to the the beautifully designed Indica hatchback. The boot of the Indigo looked more like an attempt to add more luggage space, by someone who had no idea on the looks of the parent car. However the car was a wise move from Tata as it became a huge hit with its low price, cheap maintenance and practicality.

The rocking success made Tata go one step further and do the unthinkable. An increased wheelbase, luxury amenities, a name which obviously refers to its size and it was time to say, "Hi XL". The misproportionate looks continued, but this time with more vigour. What's with that mile-long rear door? They could have added a panel in between the two doors which is the standard design feature of most limos. Sprinkle some creases, curves and plastic inserts on the panel and that will make it less boring. That requires re-tooling, but of course not as much as what was done for the rear door which can also double up as a fortress gate.

I'd rather choose to say "Bye XL". The manufacturer chooses to call it a luxury limousine. It has acres of space inside and the luxury car ingredients. Still, it doesn't qualify as one. Point acknowledged, that it's cheaper than many sedans in the C-segment. Will that part make the brand conscious buyer turn to the XL? The answer is a big NO. Or an over-ambitious "may be".

"Look ma, a long Indigo" looks don't help. Who'd choose to pay a premium for a luxury car which hasn't got too many distinguishing features from the so-so budget sedan next-door? Or let's make it worse, it looks exactly like the city cab at the next intersection.

A word to Tata. Either make a proper stretch limo or don't make it at all. A "limo" which is mid-way between a short wheelbase sedan and an executive class saloon isn't the right way to (Indi)go.

T1 may be Can'ned by CanAm

So you thought the Caparo T1 is the closest that it'll ever get to an F1 car. You were so right. Let me modify that phrase a bit. You "were" so right. Confused? Continue reading.

What you see in the image is the Hulme CanAm, a supercar from the land of the Kiwis. It shamelessly borrows a lot from the T1 when it comes to styling. To the casual onlooker, CanAm looks exactly like the T1. Even the promotional car colour is the same. The low stance lends it loads of grip and the highlighted F1 car feel. The F1 racer inspired styling continues bumper-to-bumper. The narrow nose, the chunky side panels and the high set spoiler contributes to the toned down F1 machine looks.

CanAm's power and torque figures will make the T1 run for cover. 600 Bhp in power ratings and 600 Nm of torque, all of which are drawn out from a huge 7 litre V8 Chevrolet engine. A six speed gearbox mated to the powertrain makes sure that all that numbers are put to good use on the road. Speed freaks will be amused by its projected top whack of 320kph.

At $700,000 the CanAm isn't in the same price range as the T1 which retails for around $500,000. However the elite buyers of the CanAm will consist of those who find the 575 Bhp power and 420 Nm toque of the T1 quite less. Point to note is simple and clear. Every good thing comes at a price. This just happens to be pricier.

Carbon on a roll

Pack your bags, Fords and Chevys. You are about to be dismissed from the highway patrol team. Crown Victorias may go back to the taxi business or take up under cover jobs with the Feds and Impalas may do whatever they are suited for. Yes, the recession has taken its toll on everything in sight. But that’s not the reason why these old ladies are being shown the door. We have a new gatecrasher in town – the Carbon E7. A whopping 10,000 cars have been ordered by various police departments in the US. Interestingly, the cops are willing to wait for four years till they take delivery.

The name Carbon E7 suits a carbonfibre bodied sportscar. But the subject is not one. It’s a built-for-the-job cop car. While the Crown Vics and the Impalas have to be modified to suit their high voltage job profiles, the E7 comes factory-fitted with all the equipment needed for the action. Being a strongly built machine, it can multi-task as a car chase terminator too.

Powering this enforcer is a 3 litre turbo diesel which churns out all of 300bhp.A six speed automatic gear box transfers all that brute force to the wheels and with a 0-60mph figures coming at 6.5 seconds. A top speed of 155 mph will make the E7 remain in the rear-view mirror of those with too much of need for speed. Cops won’t have to break the chase with stops at the gas station too, as the E7 is a frugal machine. So inter-state chases will be a non-stop breeze.

The oldies have all the time till 2012 to plan their less eventful future. Cabs get to be part of high-octane chases only in movies. Not in the streets. Bad luck ladies.

Q n A

Every year a minimum of 10,000 new species are discovered from the deepest of forests and the depths of oceans. Scientists believe that there are thousands more to be brought to the list. If no one has any qualms in accepting that fact, then why can't they believe that aliens exist?

The vastness of outer space has not been seen or measured by the best technology available with us right now. We have limited knowledge on the planets in our solar system and the universe. Based on that limited knowledge we pass judgments and follow guesses. Educated guess is a nice-sounding usage in this context. Those educated guesses have told us that there are thousands of solar systems out there, each comprising of stars and planets. So can't atleast one of those planets have intelligent life forms?

Aliens is a term which is so much cliched nowadays. But let me use that word. Just like we send out probes to find more on other planets, just like we collect samples form other planets, can't aliens too drop in on planet Earth to study it more? Wouldn't they be as curious as us to study the dominant species on the planet, efforts of which are better known as alien abductions? Why do we find it hard to believe that we are not the only inhabitants of this universe? Proof is required to support this statement. But isn't it not just unfair but also a stupid move from us not to give it a chance of probability? That too at a time when we have evidence which hints life on some celestial bodies in our vicinity.

To all those who are still find it difficult to believe, let me remind you that five hundred years ago everyone found it difficult to believe that the earth was spherical. Lucky for them, they aren't alive to shamefully take back the idea which they followed blindly. When Galileo suggested that the sun was at the centre and the Earth revolved around it, he was subject to trial and was condemned by the Church and the society. Do we have to be referred to in history as the stubborn society which despised and neglected chances and probabilities?

The image above is one of the most recognised posters of all time. Followers of the X-Files TV series will be familiar with the poster from Agent fox Mulder's office wall. I guess, the image puts things in perspective more than any words could ever do.

Ugliest cars in India - ICML Rhino RX

The Toyota Qualis would have made it to this list if it were still around. But Toyota pulled the plug on that breadbox-on-wheels MUV a long time ago. Do we miss it? Well, not exactly. It was a remarkable MUV which redefined a segment with its quality and packaging.

Toyota began its innings in India with the Qualis and it did complete justice to the bulletproof reliability associated with the company. So no one really bothered about the Jurassic era styling. Later the Innnova drove into the showrooms and our car parks, effectively replacing the Qualis.

Things were looking good and then this one came into the picture. Meet ICML Rhino RX - the exact relica of the Qualis. That excludes the superb engine and the fit and finish levels. One more similarity, the Rhino is as unreasonably priced as the Qualis. The logic in this copycat-act is a mystery. If they had to copy a design to save costs, couldn't they have picked a better looking vehicle?

It must be admitted that Rhino is a bit better than the Qualis when viewd from the front. Head-on, the rounded headlamps and the bumper design are reliefs. That doesn't save the rest of the package. There are the usual style-savers like two tone paint jobs, stickers and a list of new colur schemes. Is someone forgetting the fact that these are dated ways to save face? More dated than the two-decade old design itself.

Ugliest cars in India - Honda CR-V

Another Honda and this is something that I really hate to do. I have said this before. Honda makes the best engines. But one way or the other they give the rest of the world lots of arguments against their sense of style. Some automobile mags call the new CR-V a revolutionary design. I agree. It is revolutionary, but only if it means tasteless. The softroader which it replaced was a conventional looking city slicker which had the stance of an SUV and the mannerisms of a sedan. That design was in need of replacement and the one which came to fill its shoes made us all pray that Honda hadn't replaced it at all.

Now let us get down to business. What is that front end all about? To be specific, the grille which comes right below the Honda emblem. Is it a space filler which the designers chucked in to fill up the plain space between the bumper and the headlamps? Looks so to me. The glass house is another distraction. The slanting profile of the third window isn't exactly a tasteful touch. May be it is a match which suits a car with a styling package like this. I don't wish to say anything at all about the rear end.

But here's the catch, it's a Honda. For buyers who know the reliability which comes free with that insignia, that pretty much ends all doubts and comments on its styling.

New York may bring a smile

Kabir Khan's debut movie, Kabul Express had its flaws. But the movie festivals picked it up and they fell in love with the movie. That the entire shooting was completed in a post US invaded and battle-torn Afghanistan was nothing short of an acheivement. It dealt with the plight of all the people involved in that war and thankfully didn't preach. A visual feast, which told a fine story with the help of breath-taking frames.
The director is only a movie young and he is on it again. This time kicking it up a notch. Teaming up with Yash Raj Films, the new movie titled New York deals with post 9/11 issues faced by the international students in the Big Apple. The star cast comprises of a better acting John Abraham, still a non-actor but gorgeous looker Katrina Kaif, niche kid Neil Nithin Mukesh and the always marvellous Irrfan Khan. The promos have Kabir Khan shots written all over them. Since it's a YRF movie, no compromises on the packaging part.

The promotional poster does deserve a mention here. A night shot of the Manhattan skyline with a ghostly image of the World Trade Centre is not just catchy but can be a topic of discussion for the bearded thinkers. The WTC is long gone. However, the ghosts of the past still remain to haunt the inhabitants of the city.

I hope Ram Gopal Verma isn't listening. If he is, then please don't take thae previous sentence literally. And don't torture us with a Nisha Kothari-starrer horror flick set in New York.

June 19 : Angry young man coming to town...No, it's not Big B

It's been almost 40 days since X-Men Origins: Wolverine released in the US. After a scintillating run around the globe it's finally on its way to our shores. The $150 million movie has taken in a decent sum of $351 million so far and is yet to open in some more markets. Obviously, it's successful enough to green light a sequel.

On a personal note, I'm not happy with the India release of Hollywood movies being delayed like this. This time, it was the rift between the distributors and the multiplex owners which kept summer flicks like these out of our reach. Earlier it used to be the tag of a small market, which resulted in delayed releases.

In the case of Wolverine, the dates were postponed more than once and if the trailers on air are to be believed, very soon we'll get to see the angry young man of the superhero universe tearing apart bad guys in the latest movie of the X-men series. The date to mark on your calendars is June 19 and that can also be marked as the date to give your nail cutter that much needed vacation.

Critics, please shut your mouth and pack up. We don't buy tickets to a summer action flick with a hope to savour cinematic brilliance. We do it for the mindless fun. If you can't figure that out, look for another job.

About the pic, that's not Wolvy's idea of a manicure. Nor is he sharpening his adamandium claws. For him, it's just a day's work of saving the good guys.

Iron Man to be whipped

This is another metal clanger update that I had been waiting for. Iron Man sequel may release only in 2010. But the shooting footage and pics are gently making their way into media. So who do we have here? It's Academy Award nominee Mickey Rourke as Whiplash, the bad guy in Iron Man 2. From the looks of it, he seems to have followed Obadiah Stane's modus operandi from the first movie. The electric whips draw power from what strikingly resembles the same arc-reactor powering Tony Stark's armour suit.

For the droolers, there is Gwyneth Paltrow reprising her role as Tony's assistant, Virginia Pepper Pots and Scarlett Johansson as Black Widow. Too much to ask for and too good to have. Just in case you are anxious if Johansson's character is negative, there is no reason to worry as she is one of the good guys. Terrence Howard checked out and in his shoes as Lt. Colonel James Rhodes is Don Cheadle. Though I'd choose to watch Cheadle's movies over Howard's, I really don't think this is one role which suits the former. Samuel L. Jackson, takes command as Nick Fury and rumour has it that he has been signed in for nine movies as the same character.

Of course, though it needs no mention, we have Robert Downey Jr again as the witty, wise-cracking, super-rich, playboy hero. The first film made him an icon and I just can't imagine what the sequel will do to his career. Whatever it might be, one thing can be confimed now. It will definitely boost his superstar status. The suit will be of help in conquering those heights with ease. Up, up and away...ehm...wrong line.

Moto-Terminator beefier than Arnold's Harley

If Christian Bale and Sam Worthington are actors who you don't even care about, you have got one more bait to fall for Terminator Salvation. The Moto-Terminator will set the screen on fire with its physics defying stunts and will probably make you fall off the seat at the movies.

Set in 2018, Terminator Salvation follows the battle between Skynet and the resistance led by John Connor. So where does Moto-Terminators fit in? These baddies are best described as Terminators on wheels. Hunting machines built to run down resistance fighters, they are armed to the teeth with guns and rocket launchers. Not your usual list of accessories come retrofitted.

Now for the juicy part. The bike was inspired by a real world machine. The Ducati Hypermotard, a niche bike which has taken the biking world by storm was used as a reference for the visual effects. All the stunt riding featured in the movie involved this torquey little monster. In post-production the bikes were replaced by 3D rendering of the Moto-Terminator.

Alright, it's not a real bike. It's a CGI effect onscreen. But it is one hell of a machine which unfortunately can't be ridden. Even T-800 will stay away from this monster bike.

Fire and Ice Land Rovers...too hot, too cool

Tata taking over Land Rover was not the best thing to have happened as far as the Brits are concerned. The argument which iss against Tata is simple. A truck maker will never appreciate and understand the heritage and brand name associated with Land Rover. So wrong you are, Brits. Take a look at the new Fire and Ice editions of the workhorse in LR stable, the Defender and prepare to take your words back.

The rest of the bare-basic SUVs have taken the luxury root, even the G-wagon. So how can the Defender stay behind? So in addition to the rugged standard Defender, LR has for its customers two special editions. The shell remains the same, retaining its 1948 design. The semi-dolled-up look owes to the colour coded head and tail lights, recaro seats, leather upholstery, new 5-spoke alloys and sunroof which lets the sun and nature in.

Fire edition comes in a Vesuvius Orange metallic, which of course is very much loyal to the machine's name. Ice edition, obviously comes in Alaska White. Both have been given a dual tone paint job with black finish on the hood and the roof.

They aren't cheap. Nor are they available for all. The tag says $95,000. 850 lucky and super rich Land Rover lovers will get to drive off in one of these.

TF2 deported from June 24 to July 3 - Why God why?

Didn't I forgive those who sinned me? Didn't I pray on my knees each day? Didn't I try to be better person? Didn't I? And is this how you reward the good guys, oh Almighty?

That hurts. That really hurts. No, I'm not giving a caption to the pic which by the way is of Optimus uncle getting a power-packed kick from Megatron. Call paramedics!.

Why can't the movie studios stick to their release schedule? Take the case of TF2. They announced June 24 as the India release date and fanboys like me popped the bubbly instantly. Drinks all around! And now they are airing trailers with July 3 as the India release date. We were running out of patience and were hanging on to what's left of it, when June 24 was the announced date. Now what? It comes next month? Thank you guys, for making the month of June a mirage.

Thumbs down and booooooooooooooo!!! (to the so-called box office strategists at Dreamworks and Paramount Studios) As for the movie...TF2 will rock the planet!!!

US Air Force to rear studs...Ford Mustangs to begin with

The US Air Force is at it again. No, they didn't bomb an entire village in Afghanistan to kill a single terrorist. And they haven't admitted that they have a flying saucer in one of their hangars in the Nevada desert. Instead they have drafted in Galpin Autosports, a tuner company to make this - a special edition Ford Mustang.

Apltly named US Air Force Mustang X-1, this car is wider than the standard Mustang. With a heavily altred front section which reminds you of the new Knight Rider it is indeed a loud car. They say it has been designed with fighter jet design as source material. I'll take that with a pinch of salt. Power figures are way north of 500bhp and the nitrous adds to the surge. The tyres are so wide that you'd wish you are never run over by this one. Finished in white (an unusual choice), this one has all black rims, scissor doors which would make a Lamborghini proud and an ejector seat. Yeah, you read it right - an ejector seat. That does makes it outrageous. It's a single seater and the driver sits in the middle. Very much like a fighter jet. The interior wouldn't be quite new to the seasoned fighter pilot as well. Did I mention that it has a shifter borrowed from a fighter jet? I'd be surprised if it doesn't have the storage area for the warheads.

So what is this machine for? Why exactly would the Air Force need a car like this when they have Raptors, Eagles and Stealths as pin-ups? Short answer. The car will be part of the recruiting programme. Uncle Sam has aged and what the armed forces need to get the attention of the youngsters is the all American muscle car phenomenon. And it always works.

Don't dare to ask too many questions unless you have atleast a hundred anti-aircraft missiles in your backyard. Everything is on a need to know basis and you don't need to know.

P.S - This isn't the only machine which is part of the recruitment drive. A Stealth inspired Challenger is also drafted in. More on that in a later post. Statutory Warning: It is scarier than this one.

Autobot Bruce? Naah...

Before you jump to conclusions, let me clarify. This is not Bumblebee's long lost younger brother, if he has one. This humble Chevrolet Cruze is the handiwork of a Transformer's fan from China. The Chevrolet Camro was an expensive car for him and the special edition is yet to to be launched.

So our fanboy went ahead and bought a Cruze which happens to be a practical family car and not a powerhouse. To make up for the loss of the real Bee, he added decals and the twin stripes and we have to give him a pat on the back for his work. The detailing is immaculate. It does look purposeful and doesn't pass off as just another sticker job.

So Chevrolet, how about a Cruze, next time in TF3? Make him an Autobot. If the Chevy Volt can be the Autobot Jolt, may be Cruze can join the team as...Bruce (?) . Meanwhile I can transform my pick up truck (if I had one) to turn it into Ironhide. Bull bars, roll cage, chunky off-road tyres, rocket launchers, laser canon...did I go too far?

Terminator burns more

With the deepest regrets and heartfelt condolences I’d like to let the world know that the fourth installment of Terminator series will turn out to be the second biggest disaster of 2009, post Watchmen. The US box office collections till date have not been so much encouraging. It has been 18 days since Christian Bale’s resistance started its battle at the box office. The results are nothing to write home about - a near-numb $105 million in the US and a paltry $25 million in other markets. The comparison with the third movie brings up more disappointments. Turns out that T3 had a better run compared to Terminator Salvation. Matters are getting worse as T4 is witnessing sheer drops in collection with each passing day.The low figure in foreign markets is due to the distributor’s move to postpone the international release to June. T4 releases in many foreign markets in June and July. This in turn will turn out to be the blunder of the year. Even a toddler is wise enough to avoid a release schedule which overlaps with that of Transformers 2. By the time T4 makes it to international markets, the theatres will be fighting for time to fit in more shows of Michael Bay’s robot wars epic. So T4 may not stand a fighting chance. Worst case scenario, it’ll crash at $300 million or if the chances are better it may settle for $400 million. Either way, it’ll not be the hit we all expected it to be.

Transformers 2 : India release date announced

All fans of the transforming bots celebrate!!! Transformers 2 is invading theatres in India on June 24. That's excellent news given the fact that it's the same date on which our friends in the US get to cheer Optimus in theatres.

New Zealand and UK will be the lucky ones as they get their share of the robogasm on 18th and 19th respectively. Number-crunchers, here's one for you. The five day opening weekend in the US is expected to plough in $160 million or may be more.

As for the pic, Optimus takes a quick breather while battling Blackout and Starscream. Sword drawn, metal muscles flexed, tired but never to quit - now that's what I call a killer pose. I'm gonna shout when this comes up on the big screen.

Knight Rider drives into Indian TV screens

Think of David Hassellhoff and the first things that come to your mind will be one of these two - Baywatch or Knight Rider. The result depends a lot on whether you are a babe guy or a car guy. Let's pay attention to Knight Rider as it's the one which belongs in this blog. The 1980s TV series on a crime-fighting duo - Michael Knight (David Hassellhoff) and his sentient talking car (KITT), was an instant hit. So much so that it has witnessed reruns on channels around the globe. A total of three TV movies and a spin-off series (Team Knight Rider) followed suit. In India, DD picked it up quite early and later Star World took over the wheel. As producer Glen. A. Larson envisioned, Knight Rider was about a modern day knight who fought crime. It was more like a western with a cow boy-like protagonist as far as charm and attitude are concerned and a hi-tech car instead of a spirited horse.

In 2008 NBC resurrected the franchise with a new cast and more tech-laden concept. David Hassellhoff was replaced by soap opera pretty boy Justin Bruening and the iconic Pontiac Trans Am, justifiably was replaced by a new Ford Shelby GT 500 KR Mustang. Bruening played Mike Traceur, son of Michael Knight. The 2 hour pilot episode garnered enough rating to approve a full-fledged season. Though purists did complain about the missing charm of the old series, the lacklustre performances by the actors and of course the selection of Val Kilmer (Batman Forever, Top Gun) over William Daniels as Kitt's voice, the makers and NBC launched the new series in September 2008.

Despite the abundant use of special effects and the move to make KITT more sophisticated than a Transformers robot, the series does lack the simplicity and fails to keep the attention of the viewer. Kitt has a new-look super pursuit mode which I must say often makes it look uglier than the cars featured in BBC Topgear Carbage section. It's absolute garbage.
The new Kitt borrows a lot from the Transformers movie with its instant transformation tricks as it shape shifts to other Ford vehicles. Over-the-top product placement from Ford. Unlike the good old Kitt, the new machine is a weapons specialist. Guns, missiles, EMP, laser, everything that will feel at home in a Star Trek battle ship, lurks under its panels. The signature Turbo-boost which launches the car to a short leap over hurdles is back too. But the scenes are nowhere near the ones from the original series which stunned you with the realism. The base got bigger too as now Kitt relaxes at Kitt-cave, a rip-off of Bat-cave and a specially designed cargo plane instead of the trailer truck does the pick-up and drop duties.

Seriously, I never wished any of this to happen. I am probably one of the biggest fans of the original series and I'd love to see Hoff and Kitt with their buddy talks, hi-speed runs and the final drive, to the sunset with that brilliant theme score in the backdrop. Knight Rider is out of place in this age. Regardless of all the tech, transformation and the espionage acts the new edition fails to deliver and fails to match the adorability of the real cast, crew and themes. It's one of those series which belong in that age. It shouldn't be fiddled with, but has to enjoyed in all its original glory.

The new Knight Rider airs on Star World from June 18. The one hour show will be telecast every Thursday and Friday at 10 pm.

Ugliest cars in india - Tata Indica Vista

I celebrated with all my heart when Indica hit the roads way back in 1998. It was a moment of pride for Tata and the entire Indian automotive community. The first car made in India and made for India, this spacious hatch was styled by the Italian design house I.DE.A. They did a remarkable job and Tata followed it up with freshening ups and subtle face-lifts. A prepped-up Indica can still give the rest of the hatchbacks some style-check lessons, even now. Then the unthinkable happened. The Indica Vista was born.

A new platform and new looks were the much shouted USPs of Vista. But this was cruel in a way, at least to the Indica brand. Take a look at the traditional Indica and the Vista and you’ll understand what I’m trying to say. There is class and dignity in the former while the latter unsuccessfully tries to be an attention grabber. It does succeed at times by gaining attention for the wrong reasons. The bulged up hood with wrap-around headlamps makes you cringe than fall in love with the car. The glasshouse is another nail which tinkers with its looks. Let me guess, the plausible design guideline was, “Let’s build a people carrier to beat the Innova” and once the designers completed the design of the front section, the manufacturer changed it to, “Ok, make that a small car”. Vista has a bulky looking front section and from the front wheels to the rear it looks undernourished. To finish it off there are the ruler-thin tail lights which look more like an afterthought than anything else.

I have seen some souped-up versions of the Vista. But they don’t stand a chance in front of a similarly modded Indica. No wonder, the latter stills sells more than the former.

Ugliest cars in India - Renault Logan

I'm a very reasonable person and I like the Logan. A decent car with no sky-high ambitions, the Logan is a basic A to B mode of transport. It's priced right and is cheap to maintain. The low price owes much gratitude to the cost-effective manufacturing techniques adopted by Mahidra Renault. Thanks to that, they can sell it at rock-bottom prices which will make even smaller cars seem over-priced.

Now to the titular case. It's not a stylish car. It's well-designed with smart design elements which aim more at practicality and comfort. Add to that the cost-cutting measures and the end result is a car which looks cluttered. There are too many straight lines on the Logan for a new age car. Ask a kid to draw a car and he'll draw one which looks strikingly similar to the Logan. That's not a compliment, Renault! This is more of a ruler-and compass work. Since renault is well known since time immemorial for the quirky styling of their cars, this isn't a surprise.

Mahindra-Renault has introduced a couple of new versions in new shades with alloy wheels and the works. But the bad styling is something which can't be covered up with these add-ons.

Speed Breaker - Honda Stunner joins the show

So finally I got my set of wheels. Thanks to the frequent convincing acts from friends, the blogger zeroed in on the ever-reliable Honda. A bit flashy here, a fantastic engine there, this machine is quite well above the expected standards. I often find it tough to convince others that this is a humble 125cc commuter which looks like a 150cc big bike(by Indian standards).

With a bit of performance bike aspirations thrown in, it looks purposeful. The fixed front cowl and headlamp assembly, the sharp fairing, the sporty seating postion and the stepped seat do lend it an aggressive stance. The low end range is encouraging as far as city commute is concerned. Say good bye to frequent gear shifts because of that. 5 gears isn't necessary for a bike which tops out somewhere around 100kph. I have no complaints, as the feel of having a 5 gear transmission at my disposal is pleasing.

Thank heavens, she is less demanding than her looks convey. Handling isn't exceptional, but doesn't make the rider uncomfortable. The tyres are meaty and give a firm grip on the tarmac, inspiring confidence. A fine choice for long trips too and that translates into more beautiful places to go to and shoot, like the one in the pic.

Trust me, the pillion rider will love this bike. The higher postion of the rear seat ensures that she (hopefully!) gets an unhindered view of the road ahead. That's a good excuse to buy this machine if you haven't got the bucks for a full-blown performance/cruiser bike. It works for me. :)

Ugliest cars in India - Nissan Teana

What exactly is the Nissan Teana? A sedan? A station wagon? A notch back? Or a mess? Probably it's an example of the last kind. A bland design which is so much lifeless and dated that the prospective buyer will be reluctant to part with his money. Nissan has some fantastic looking cars in its portfolio and I still wonder why they opted to give India this jelly bean shaped luxury car.

Nissan does need a refresher course on Indian tastes. Organic shapes are making their way out of the car design industry and if they still expect us to fall for a dull looking vessel, they need something more than the course.

Teana sets you back by Rs. 20 lakhs and for a bit north or south of that sum, you can take home better lookers like the Skoda Superb and VW Passat. The equipment levels speak in Teana's favour. But a D-segment buyer expects more than the interior comfort and features. He wants style and chunks of it. Unfortunately Teana has anything but style.

Ugliest cars in India - Tata Sumo

A pre-historic design and that too a bad one, that’s the Tata Sumo. No matter how many face lifts and how many stickers Tata gives the MPV, it still remains as ugly as it used to be at the time it was launched. It has been put through tons of paint jobs, colour schemes, minor aesthetic changes, and Tata still failed to rectify its major design drawback – the kicked-up rear end. In profile the vehicle reminds you of a Sumo wrestler trying to walk tip-toe.
Based on the tried, tested and tired 207 platform, Tata Sumo was one of the first cars (if you can call it one) designed in India. Space was not a problem. It had enough area for the extended Indian family and the dog. Ride was comfy unless the vehicle was pushed to its limits. The range topping Victa was a bit of a relief as far as looks are concerned. The Spacio never came anywhere in the territory of design and styling. But atleast it never tried to be a family vehicle. Overall the design was flawed. It lacked poise and handled like barge.

The new Sumo Grande does look promising and fresh with the borrowed design cues. But the old wrestler still lags behind and it still sells. Courtesy, the space, the price and the cheap maintenance.